xi Improvement of Models Chemistry 111 



to the Society of Arts, for which he received a pre- 

 mium of ten guineas. 



Bacon continued to labour in the pottery shop of 

 Crispe for some years, gathering knowledge and ex- 

 perience. One of his first successful efforts was a 

 small figure of Peace, after the antique style. He 

 modelled some eight works for the Society of Arts, for 

 which he received premiums for one, a human figure 

 as large as life, a premium of as much as fifty-two 

 pounds ten shillings. 



He removed from Crispe's workshop, and became a 

 successful labourer in Coade's Artificial Stone Manu- 

 factory, in Lambeth, shortly after its establishment in 

 1769. It must have been about this time, when he was 

 looking out for a new employer, that Wedgwood became 

 acquainted with him, and employed him on his new 

 cameos and intaglios, which so greatly enhanced the 

 reputation of his firm. 



It is unnecessary to follow the further career of John 

 Bacon ; but it may be mentioned, that when the Eoyal 

 Academy was instituted, Bacon was twenty-eight years 

 old, and in the year 1769 he had the honour of receiving 

 from the hands of Sir Joshua Eeynolds the first gold 

 medal ever given for sculpture by the Eoyal Academy. 

 The subject was ^Eneas bearing Anchises from the 

 burning of Troy. After this, his reputation became 

 distinguished ; and his works are still famous. His 

 statue of Mars was copied in a reduced form by Wedg- 

 wood, and still remains one of his finest intaglios. 



